THE Mount Ida Chronicle. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1871.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 140, 3 November 1871, Page 4

THE Mount Ida Chronicle. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1871.

In reply to our article in a late issue.. on the subject of special and acre claims, we received a letter from " GoAhead," calling in question the justice of our remarks upon these very important subjects, and stigmatising our de- . ductions as "illogical and illiberal." We fail to see wherein any want of logic or liberality was exhibited in the article upon which " G-o-Ahead " com- i ments. So far as we are able to judge, our views in almost every essential point correspond with those ot Our caustic, or rather, perhaps, sarcastic correspondent. For instance, we admit equally with himself, that these diggings are, auriferously speaking,., poor, and, as a rule, in small claims will frequently not repay miners the labor and expense involved in the construction of the " inevitable " tail race and leave at the same time a fair margin for profit. We admit also that the claims should be of larger size than at present, whether as special claims or under the acre system. While making these admissions, however, we desire to see a system introduced which shall, as far as possible, prevent the occupation of ground except, by a honajtde miner and for mining purposes only. Wo object to any and everything which either savors of or can by any possibility lead to monopoly. So long as we are convinced that the ground applied

for. isto be put to profitable account we are satisfied, but we desire to enter our protest against any being being 1 granted excepting for the purpose of actual occupation and use. Justice to all is our motto, and so long as an area is, held, be it ever so large in moderation, if held conditionally upon its being honestly worked, we care not. In fact, the greater the area (within anything like reasonable limits) the better for the honest miner nnd the public revenue. To grant any area without restriction, condition, or prohibition of any kind is, to our mind, a great and fatal error. Special claims should, in o\ir opinion, come under the same category'as leaseholds or acre claims, in each, of which cases a minimum number of men per acre have to be constantly employed, under pain of forfeiture. With such a system we entirely concur, but most emphatically object to the ' granting of any large areas, whether as, special claims or under the acre system, without provision or condition •of" any kind. If " Gro-Ahead "be a veritable miner he cannot fail to endorse our views, seeing that their object is to advocate the cause and protect the interest of the honest miner, and prevent, as far as possible, the further granting of monopolies which, once granted, are difficult to abrogate, arid which never fail, as "Go-Ahead" must from personal knowledge be aware, to result in injury to the general interests of this district. We have had enough of monopoly-granting, and the public well know it, as they are daily feeling and grumbling at its results. The granting of large claims without conditions is nothing more nor lesS than monopoly, and monopoly of the worst kind; while the granting of such claims with conditions which render the working compulsory, and regulates'the number of men per acre to is the system which this district requires. The auriferous ground is of a very large extent, and the acre system cannot interfere with the taking up of claims by miners wherever they may desire, while it would protect the energetic miner who enters into speculations on a large -scale, and employs a large amount of ilabor.

Though fully believing, as we have *said, in the acre system as the one best suited to these workings, we rather prefer the action recently taken by Mr Warden Eobinson in the matter, in the declaring each claim open for selection •upon application, rather than the. defdaration of a large district as being •eligible to be taken up under the acre system. In the latter case there might be a.chance of abuse—in the former ;there should be none, as each separate •application would be decided on its own merits, and it would not be a matter of much difficulty to ascertain whether or not the application contained rgronnd -mope than usually auriferous —the great danger to be guarded against. "We trust that we have satisfied "Go-Ahead" that, if "illogical," •we are certainly not " illiberal."

There are, we understand, two cases set •down for hearing at the next sitting of the District Court, Wednesday, Bth instant—Barnard O'Neill v. Connolly and Ross, for illegally -seizing, and selling property ; and White V. Law, for false arrest and imprisonment. Through a press of advertising and other matter at a'J(ate, nour last evening, we are reluctantly compelled to hold over criticism on the Garrick Club performance, and also, communication signed '' Toleration," now in type. A full programme of the Mount Ida Jockey Club race meeting, appointed to take place on Wednesday and Thursday, 10th and 11th .January nex£,'Avill be found in our advertising •columns. The first meeting of the Committee of the Mount Ida District Hospital has been appointed to take place on Tuesday, 13th inst. The long date at which this meeting has been convened has been to enable as many as possible of the members for the outlying districts to be present. We trust that all members of the Committee will recognise the responsibility they have accepted by making the first meeting a full one. When the public once see that the Committee are in earnest their confidence will be induced and their support not begrudged. The Mount Ida Garrick Club have, we are informed, received a flattering invitation from St. Bathans to give an entertainment at that place on the evening of Thursday next, in aid of the funds of the embryo Mount Ida District Hospital. The invitation has been accepted by the Club, who have, in the most liberal manner, placed their services at the command of the St; Bathanites. It is matter for regret that the St. Bathans Hospital subscriptions should have found their way to Clyde before

the Nasebyites had made a move in the matter of an Hospital for the Mount Ida. District. Still, we feel sure that the institution will have the sympathy of St. Bathans, and that next year we shall have the advantage of their assistance and support also. The step which they have taken in the matter of the Garrick Club shows the spirit which they are likely to infuse into the movement. We trust, indeed we have no doubt, that the entertainment given, by the Club will be as successful as have been those at Naseby. "We heartily wish the members a pleasant trip. • Since our last issue the weather has been fair, but sufficiently hot to be on many days oppressive in the extreme, reaching at times almost midsummer heat. The natural result has been a considerably diminished water supply in the races. As want of water really means a number of men out of work, we gladly welcome the change which took place yesterday about noon, since which time up to the hour at which we iveiit to press the rain has continued to fall, with little cessation, heavily and steadily. Not only will mining operations be favorably affected by this change, 'but the vegetation also, upon which the lengthy drought was beginning to have a sensible though injurious eff&et. A continuance of the rainfall for some hours to come will be very acceptable. A meeting of subscribers to the Carew tes-, timonial took place £tt G-eorge's Victoria Hotel on Monday evening last, when resolutions were passed to the effect that the testimonial should consist of certain articles of plate and an engrossed address, and a Committee was appointed to give effect to those resolutions. On Tuesday the Committee met and adopted an address, which will be forwarded to town for engrossation. The meeting then adjourned till to-morrow at 4.30 p.m.,' to communicate with Mr.; Strong as to price, &c, of the articles of plate. It was also resolved that Mr. Walter Inder be requested to act as Treasurer.

As evidence of the fact that this place is becoming daily better known, and its importance more generally appreciated, we may mention that last week a covered express waggon, well filled with choice flowers in pots, put in an appearance. The flowers, which were, we be•lieve, raised in Palmerston, were tastefully arranged in the Oddfellows' Hall, Hunter's Empire Hotel, and when sold by Inder and G-eorge by public auction, realised very satisfactory prices. We understand that there is likely to be a repetition of this somewhat novel venture; we trust the re.-ult, nay be equally satisfactory ap the last. The enterprising speculator is Mr Solomon of Palnierstou, draper. We regret to learn that considerable damage has been done by dogs to the flocks of Messrs. Sanders, of Kyeburn station. Really this dog nuisance is becoming intolerable. In the town of Naseby they swarm like rats, and woe to the unfortunates who happen to be light sleepers. We cannot but think that, if due care" were taken by the police in the matter of the registration, there would very soon be a sensible diminution in the number of curs who exist neither for use nor ornament.

We notice that our respected townsman, Mr L. W. Buseh, is erecting a new photographic gallery upon an extensive scale and upon an improved principle. The photographs which have heen taken in Mr. Busch's establishment have been remarkable alike for correctness and finish, and we trust that in the pictures which may issue from Mr. Busch's new gallery the same favorable features may not only be maintained but, if possible, improved upon. Improvements would appear to be the order of the day in Naseby. Mr. Hunter, of the Empire Hotel, being, we are informed, about to convert what is at present the Oddfellows' Hall into a billiard room and the present billiard .room into shops, The position is a good one, and the shops should command a good rent. No decision has yet been arrived at by the Oddfellows as to where their future meetings are to be heJd. There appears to be among the brethren an evident desire to erec*. a hall of their own, if it can be made possible so to do. For the present the meetings of the brethren will still take place in their old hall at the Empire Hotel. , We understand that Mr. H. A. Stratford, having been requested by the Sabbath School Committee, has consented to give a lecture in the Masonic Hall during the present month, the proceeds to be devoted to the funds of the Union Sabbath School. Some select pieces on the piano will be played. The programme will appear in our advertising columns next week. By an error, a sitting of the Warden's and Resident Magistrate's Courts, Naseby, was in our last and present issue advertised for Nov. /9th instead of Nov. 7th. We have been requested to call attention to the correction. November 9th is a Government holiday, being the Prince of Wales birthday. It must be gratifying to the residents of the Q-oldfields to know that the cost of living has been materially reduced by the use of Flour from the Mill of Robertson and Hallenstein, Lake Wakatip, which is by far the best produced in the Province, and fully equal to the best Adelaide ; whilst same is delivered to all parts of the G-oldfields at a much cheaper rate than any other Provincial brands. Orders sent to I, Hallenstein and Co., Cromwell, will be promptly attended to. — Adv.